PUNCH
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has alerted the public to the sales and distribution of counterfeit Paludex tablets and suspensions across Nigeria.
In a statement on its X handle on Wednesday, NAFDAC said that the Paludex Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets (80mg/480mg), were manufactured by Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd, No. 33A/33B Standard Industrial Layout Emene- Enugu State.
It said that the counterfeit drugs were being marketed by MD Life Sciences Ltd, Emene Industrial Layout also in Enugu State.
The statement disclosed that NAFDAC also found a Paludex (Artemether/Lumefantrine) dry powder for oral suspension (180mg/1080mg) for paediatric use in circulation.
According to the statement, the oral suspension is manufactured by Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd, No. 33A/33B Standard Industrial Layout in Enugu and Ecomed Pharma Limited in Ogun State and marketed by MD Life Sciences Ltd.
NAFDAC said that the results of laboratory analysis on both products by a WHO-prequalified laboratory in Germany indicated zero per cent ‘Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient’ (API’s) in the products.
It said that the agency also sampled the same products and the reports of analysis confirmed zero per cent of API contents.
According to the statement, the products do not exist on NAFDAC registered product database and all NAFDAC registration numbers stated on the products are false.
It noted that genuine Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets or suspension was a combination of the two medications Artemether and Lumefantrine used to treat acute, uncomplicated malaria in adults and children…
